Tag Archives: energy savings

Measuring the efficiency and cost of buildings’ energy use is essential in today’s real estate market. Buildings account for 40 percent of all energy used in the U.S., with an energy price tag of $450 billion annually. By measuring a building’s energy use through the EPA’s internationally recognized ENERGY STAR® program, commercial real estate professionals can save money and reduce energy consumption. Best of all, it’s free and easily accessed online.

ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager gives building owners and managers a baseline understanding of their buildings’ energy use and a benchmark against which to measure performance, according to Zachary Hart of the Institute for Market Transformation. Simply benchmarking energy usage led to reduced energy usage and savings: a 2012 EPA study of 35,000 benchmarked buildings found that they saved an annual average of 2.4 percent in energy costs. Buildings that benchmarked for three years straight saved an average of 7 percent.

In a competitive real estate market, this tool creates a baseline against which buildings can measure their energy usage, both for cost-saving and profit. Tenants are more likely to rent and stay in green buildings. A 2008 study by the CoStar Group found that ENERGY STAR®-labeled buildings rented at $2.40 per square foot more than non-labeled buildings, and that the labeled buildings had a 3.6 percent higher occupancy rate. Energy-efficient buildings are a safer investment for lenders and raise a building’s overall market value.… Read More

Smart buildings can be grid partners with utilities by shaving peak loads and increasing resiliency of the grid.

At peak times when utilities face heavy energy loads, smart buildings can shave demand on the grid. Thanks to electronic control systems, sensors, communications and on-site energy storage, buildings can charge their batteries when power is cheap and draw on their stored power during peak hours. Some utilities also give their customers reduced rates if they allow the utility to make momentary, unobtrusive adjustments in electricity loads during peak hours.

Automated demand response agreements enable utilities to remotely switch off their customers’ less critical systems for short periods of time during heavy demand on the grid — for example, turning off power to a hot water heater for five minutes. … Read More

Many businesses today are making large investments in workplace renovations and sustainable upgrades in order to increase employee satisfaction, wellness and productivity. Yet, a Harvard study has discovered one factor to productivity that has been overlooked: air quality.

In October 2015, the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment published a study that found that the quality of the air we breathe has… Read More

Valentine’s Day conjures up some of history’s best duos: Romeo and Juliet; Hans Solo and Chewbacca; peanut butter and jelly. At JLL, we’re thinking of another remarkable pair – one that gives both sustainability and financial experts reason to celebrate: solar and storage.

While solar power generation isn’t new, it has reached a crucial tipping point. Sourcing energy from the sun is not only commercially viable, it can be a sound economic opportunity for companies willing to invest in sustainable energy infrastructure.

But the reality is that the sun doesn’t shine 24 hours a day. Solar power can only create energy (and offset non-solar energy) during daylight hours. When the sun sets, it’s game over. With a finite amount of daylight to collect solar Photovoltaic (PV) energy, is there a way to capture and extend power-producing sunlight?

There is, according to Kyle Goehring, National Alternative Energy Services Manager at JLL. The answer is solar power plus battery storage. … Read More

The US Department of Energy (DOE) hosted its annual Solid-State Lighting (SSL, or better known as LED) Technology Development Workshop in Denver, CO on November 16th and 17th. The event was attended by 180 industry members from various backgrounds including, manufacturers, utilities, designers, municipalities and academia, all working to drive mass adoption of LEDs throughout the US.